What do you think?

Hair Removal Methods Professional Electrolysis
#1

I’ve been looking for a electroysist/thermolysist in the Kansas City area, and was wondering what people thought about this. Here is a link to their site http://www.painlessway.com/thermolysis.htm

They offer a “Removatron”, whatever the hell that is. It seems geared towards women. It’s only 60 dollars an hour BUT they only can do 30 hairs in 15 minutes. That is horrible isn’t it? 2 hairs a minute? That would take me 25 years for my area <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

This also scares me “During the course of treatment, the dark coarse hairs will turn lighter, finer and more normal. Eventually, there will be no re-growth. Either result is cosmetically desirable.”. They are just going to turn LIGHTER? Great. I need them GONE. I can’t afford to get my entire upper arms, shoulders, etc done 4 times. I’m not talking about clearances, but amount of time each hair is zapped.

I guess I am just extremely frustrated on who to trust in the thermolysis or if I should even use thermolysis instead of electrolysis. I don’t have any referrals, and have no idea who is any good or not.

#2

Got this off of a thermolysis electrolysis website <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Thermolysis Method

The thermolysis method is not true electrolysis since no chemical action is involved. It does, however, provide for permanent hair removal. Thermolysis is often referred to as electrolysis. In this everyday usage, electrolysis refers to all types of permanent hair removal.

Thermolysis, also called shortwave method, high frequency method, or diathermy, destroys the hair follicle by heat or electrocoagulation. It is the most widely practiced method of permanent hair removal available today. Thermolysis was first put into practice in 1923, but did not become popular until the 1940s. All thermolysis equipment operates at a specific radio frequency approved by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), since it is a type of radio device. With thermolysis treatment, high frequency radio energy is emitted (mostly) from the tip of the electrolysis needle, first inserted into the hair follicle. The high frequency energy agitates the molecules making up the hair growing cells. This agitation causes the cells to heat, ideally to the point of permanent tissue destruction. This destruction is referred to as electrocoagulation. A microwave oven is another example of radio waves heating organic tissue. The thermolysis method does not require the use of the second patient electrode.

Thermolysis is ideally suited for thin, shallowly rooted hairs. It is a straightforward approach, and requires a minimum of operator training. However, its usefulness greatly degrades with the larger, course and deeply rooted hairs that generally comprise the typical male beard. We find the incidence of treatment complications to be somewhat higher with thermolysis as compared to multiple needle galvanic or the blend (described next). Additionally, treatment complications greatly increase with the use of flash (high intensity, short duration) thermolysis. We feel the adverse result of pitted scarring to be greatest with flash thermolysis. The flash method is intended for treating SMALL follicles, but has been adopted for treatment of large follicles. The flash method dispenses a high intensity blast of high frequency energy within less than one second’s duration. When this intensity is proportionate to the size of small follicle, it is an acceptable method. But when this intensity is increased enough to treat larger follicles, SERIOUS PERMANENT SIDE EFFECTS MAY OCCUR. This intense heat can cause pitted scarring. For details on how this side effect occurs, please see High Frequency Blowout. Thermolysis typically provides a 5 to 15 percent kill rate for follicles treated. df

5-15% kill rate for each follicle?!?! What the hell. This sounds HORRIBLE. Maybe I shouldn’t blow all my money and live to just be a hairy beast. I mean, NOTHIN SEEMS PROMISING

#3

BTW, it has been 7 weeks since I have been treated with the EpiTouch Alexandrite laser. So, wish me luck. It is the 4th laser I have tried, hopefully this one does the trick. I’m not counting on it, but a guy can always hope. I should have some inkling by the 11th week if I’ve seen 5-10% reduction. I will be able to notice 5-10% reduction. I have noticed it on my stomach, and I have noticed 200% more hair growth on my shoulders and arms.

Anyways, I just posted 3 times by myself on one thread haha <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

#4

thermolysis is just one type of electrolysis. the others are blend and galvanic. thermolysis is fastest, so with as much hair as you have, it’s best to use that method. however, the electrologist skill is what would matter most since the speed and kill rate will depend on that.

there is a lot of information here on all methods as previously discussed if you dig around a little. kill rate of hair in GROWTH phase by thermolysis is on average 50% or so (generally agreed) as opposed to galvanic which is around 90% (this is all given a good electrologist of course). however, galvanic is much slower, maybe 1 hair per minute as opposed to 5-6. So, in the end, for faster clearance, thermolysis is better if you have a lot of hair if you want to look smoother faster. You should also shave a few days before treatment so the electrologist only treats the hair in the growth phase.

#5

I will take some time on this later, but Chuck, in all seriousness, if MicroFlash Thermolysis had only a 5% to 15% kill rate, and if it could not be performed without high frequency blow-out leading to pitting, I would not have “aided and abetted in the committing of sin” in so many cases of MtF Trans-sexuals. (a bible thumper actually said that to me once. I gave her my best Gary Coleman double take and said, “Lady, I don’t know what you are doing with your clients, but I am just removing the hair! <img src=”/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />)

Without the use of the MicroFlash modality, I would not have been able to remove the 2.5 million hairs I have removed on just one of my 4 machines.

#6

I should first state that I’m not an aesthetic professional of any type, but I am very well read in the electrolysis department (I’m beginning DIY work).

One thing I’ve found on the internet is a lot of misinformation for the sake of salesmanship.

There are a number of phrases on that site that give me the screaming heebie-jeebies about that company. There is no way I would feel comforatable buying anything from that site.

Pure galvanic electrolysis takes the longest and can take far longer than 30 secs/hair (if you’re using a home unit, like the Ptouch), but has among the highest rates of success (when properly administered).

Pure thermolysis being among the fastest modalities, it should not (even for an amatur) take 15 min to do 30 hairs.
I didn’t search the sight for details about the “Removatron”, but they make a big stink about the “No big scary needles scarring you for life”.

Electrolysis “Needles” are actually blunt (though thin) probes. They don’t puncture the skin very easily and when properly used by a trained professional are very very unlikely to cause scarring or infection.

This is true for ALL electroylsis…even true thermolysis. It sounds to me like they are offering trans-dermal thermoysis and pretending it will give permenant results.
In short. It won’t.

The best thing I can tell you is read everything you can find (Especially this forum!). Find out how your skin works. Why it grows hair in the first place. Find out what those machines actually do. Distrust anybody that tries to scare you, or threaten you. And above all realize this requires a commitment. There is no quick fix and anybody who tells you different wants your money.

Jason

#7

First, the Removatron is a scam and should be avoided. ONLY NEEDLE ELECTROLYSIS WORKS.

Also, I’ve had nothing BUT flash and micro-flash thermolysis and yet my skin looks fine. Then again, I have a very good electrologist. Galvanic is very, very slow and few people use it anymore.

There are a lot of websites out there that push the idea that thermolysis is evil, mostly run by electrolgists who only do galvanic…hmmm. Anyway, shop around and do your research.

#8

Thanks guys! I guess I will look elsewhere for electrolysis. But I need to start very soon so I can figure out if it works or not, and adjust my life accordingly. Basically, the Removatron is NOT flash thermolysis correct? 15 hairs every 30 min didn’t sound very good to me, that would take FOREVER. What is the industry standard for hairs that can be removed per minute or hour? Basically, what can a decent electrolysis be able to remove. I’m afraid that I will be too squirmy and the electrolysis will have to go slow. I have a difficult time with some lasers on certain areas because they are excruciating at times due to the thickness of my hair.

#9

Hi there! There are a lot of good electrologists in the KC area. Look at www.kansaselectrologists.com for the electrologists in the KC, Kansas area. If you are in Missouri, I’m sure that they can steer you towards someone good on the other side!

#10

you should have 3-4 consultations and sample treatments to compare speed and most importantly how your skin looks AFTER the treatment and how long it takes to heal WITH proper aftercare of course. Thermolysis is the fastest and removes about 5-10 hairs per minute. Blend is next slower method, removing 3-5 hairs per minute. Galvanic is slowest at about 1 hair per minute. You should also understand that generally it’s assumed that the methods that take longer to remove each hair have a better probability of killing hair on the first time. The most important thing is the skill of the electrologist though. You want to fastest time to KILL hair. Since you have a lot of hair, find someone who does thermolysis (also called diathermy, flash, microflash etc) and make sure your skin heals well after their treatment.